Latin American health officials seek to reform maternal care and reduce obstetric violence

Health professionals and international organizations are pushing for reforms in maternal care across Latin America to address high cesarean rates and obstetric violence.

In the Dominican Republic, Dr. Penélope Gómez, president of the Santiago branch of the Dominican Medical College, has called for a transformation of the childbirth model. She noted that high rates of cesarean sections are driven by a combination of medical, economic, cultural, and legal factors. Gómez highlighted that doctors face significant pressure in congested hospitals and often practice ‘defensive medicine’ to avoid legal complications. Additionally, cultural perceptions often lead families to view cesareans as safer or less painful options due to a lack of adequate prenatal education.

Broadly across Latin America, there is a growing movement to combat obstetric violence—including non-consensual interventions and lack of patient autonomy. While legal recognition of these issues is increasing, the focus is shifting toward modifying daily clinical practices. Supported by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, new guidelines aim to implement respectful maternal and neonatal care. In Honduras, for example, training programs for nearly 200 professionals have been developed with the support of the Pan American Health Organization to foster dignity-based institutional practices.